Tripod.



P. W. BARNES.

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1,009,374. Patented N0v.21, 1911.

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FREDERICK W. BARNES, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EASTMAN KODAK CO., 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF'NEW YORK.

TRIPOD.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 21, 1911.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. BARNES, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tripods; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings and to the reference-numerals marked thereon. j

The present invention relates to supports for cameras and similar instruments and it has for its object to'provide a folding tripod of the type comprising extensible and retractable legs and it the same with a cheap and conveniently constructed, asl well as sightly, device for locking the extensible portions of the legs in retracted positions.

To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinaftermore fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of a tripod constructed-in accordance with" and illustrating one embodiment of my invention, the leg carrying the locking deviceA being in folded position, Fig. 2 is an elevation, much enlarged, of thel lower ends of the legs in folded position, the tripod being inverted; Fig. 3 is an end view of the parts in thepositions of Fig. 2; F ig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but taken partially in section substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing the legs separated and beyond the control of the locking device. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken through one of the legs of the tripod substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Similar 'reference numerals throughout Ithe several figures indicate the same parts.

The particular tripod in connection with which I have chosen to illustrate my invention in the present embodiment comprises, as to its general features, a supporting table 1 having an instrument attaching post 2 rising from its upper side and having the legs, indicated generally by 3, 3a and 3b pivoted at 4 to the under side thereof. Each leg comprises a tubular body portion 5 and an extensible portion 6 telescoping therein and iabout the leg 3b provided at its outer or 'lower end with a ground engaging spur 7. One or more extensions 6 may be employed according to the length of leg desired and inthe present instance two intermediate sections 8 and 9 are shown but each section telescopes within the adjoining one in the same manner lying coincidently vtherewith when collapsed and held by suitable catches 10 when projected therefrom.

In the practice of my invention I secure to the body portion 5`of the leg 3b a laterally arranged cradle, 11 having seats 12 thereon for positioning the other legs when all are in the customary folded parallel relation, in which they may be maintained by an encompassing strap 13 secured to the cradle at one end and having its other end provided with an eye 14 detachably engaging a button 15 on the cradle. The cradle may itself be constructed in any suitable manner but in the present instance comprises an attaching arm 11a which is clamped by the securing button 15 for the strap 13, as shown in Fig. 6. Supportedv by the latter to extend longitudinally of and between the legs is a spindle 16 having mounted thereon at the outer end thereof a rotary plate or head 17 arranged beyond the ends of the body portions 5. This head is formed with a plurality of laterally extending projections 18, 19 and 2O which, when the head is in one position on its spindle project into the paths of endwise movement of the extensible portions 6 and prevent them from falling or being drawn out, as shown in Fig. 3. In the present instance, these projections engage the members 6 at the ends thereof just in rear of the spurs 7 as a convenient point but they might engage at the extremity of the tip, if desired. To release the legs those, other than the one by which the locking device is carried, may, of course, be moved on their pivots 4 laterally beyond the control of the head 17 after the release of the strap 13, but to release the said supporting leg the head 17 is rot-ated to the right in Fig. 3 to carry the projection 1'8 out of the path of the extensible portion 6 of that leg, as shown in Fig. 5.

A device constructed in accordance with this invention provides a locking member of great convenience which is largely concealed and which, it Will be observed, is applicable as an attachment for many tripods of a type now in general use.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a folding tripod, the combination With a leg comprising a body portion and an extensible portion adapted to be projected endivise in a direction longitudinally of the body portion, of a locking device carried on the body portion and embodying a part arranged beyond the end thereof and movable into and out of the path of endvvise movement of the extensible portion.

2. In a folding tripod, the combination with a leg comprising a body portion and an extensible portion adapted to be projected endWise in a direction longitudinally of the body portion, of a spindle on the latter extending longitudinally thereof and a rotary head on the spindle movable into and out of the path of endWise movement of the ex tensible portion.

3. In a folding tripod, the combination with a plurality of legs each comprising a body portion and an extensible portion adapted to be projected endivise in a direction longitudinally of the body portion, of

Aa locking device carried by one of the legs and adapted to engage the extensible po-rtions of all the legs simultaneously When in folded position to prevent the projection thereof.

4. In a folding tripod, the combination With a plurality of legs each comprising a body portion and an extensible portion adapted to be projected endWise in a direction longitudinally of the body portion, of a locking device carried on the body portion of one leg and embodying a part arranged beyond the ends of the body portions of all the legs When the tripod is folded, said part being adapted to project into the paths of endwise movement of all the extensible portions to prevent the projection thereof.

5. In a folding tripod, the combination with a plurality of legs each comprising a body portion and an extensible portion adapted to be projected endwise in a direction longitudinally of the body portion, of a cradle carried by the body portion of one of the legs having seats thereon for the.

others, a spindle mounted on the cradle to extend longitudinally of and between the body portions and a rotary head on the spindle arranged beyond the ends of the body portions and having projections thereon movable into and out of the paths of end- Wise movement of all of the extensible portions.

6. A locking device for tripods comprising an attaching portion adapted to be secured to the body portion of a tripod leg, a

, spindle mounted thereon to extend longitudinally of the leg and a rotary head on the spindle adapted to engage the ends of the extensions on all of the legs.

FREDERICK W. BARNES.

Witnesses:

RUSSELL B. GRIFFITH, LUCY A. VAN COURT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of IPatents, Washington, D. C. 

